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Heavenly apricot puree with Cointreau clementines and a biscuit base

Author Notes:The inspiration of the recipe is from a traditional Pakistani dessert with Hyderabadi roots. I have given it a Western twist with the addition of Cointreau soaked clementines and with a cheesecake like biscuit base - this dessert is topped with thick whipped vanilla cream and toasted almonds and pistachios and drizzled with orange blossom honey!
Best served chilled after a meal, with fresh mint tea

Variation: You could do an alcohol free version by soaking the clementines in a sugar syrup infused with saffron (saffron to be soaked in hot water for 15 minutes before being added to a basic sugar syrup, lessen the sugar in the apricot puree recipe) —Sumayya Usmani

Soak the apricots for 4-5 hours and then reserve the water. Soak the orange segments in the Cointreau for the same amount of time (refrigerate) Using the apricot water, boil in a saucepan and add apricots, cinnamon stick and star anise and bring up to the boil. Now add the sugar and honey and allow to dissolve completely. Taste and add more sugar/honey if required.
( Tip: There should be some sugar syrup left in the pan which you will need when making a puree, but mostly the apricots should be very soft and have absorbed most of the liquid.)

Once the apricots taste and smell 'cooked' and are very soft, take off the heat , dis-guard the cinnamon and anise and allow to cool slightly before pureeing in a food processor. Add the rose water and then cover and cool in fridge for a bit, until the puree is thickened.

Now in a bowl, mix the digestive biscuit crumbs with the butter and then pour into a deep glass serving dish and press down as you would for a cheesecake base then refrigerate for a about 20-30 minutes. While waiting, whip the double cream with the vanilla bean seeds, keep at hand.

To assemble, squeeze out the Cointreau from the clementines and arrange over the biscuit base. Next pour the apricot puree, followed by the whipped cream and then decorate with the slivered toasted almonds and pistachios. Drizzle with the fragrant honey and sprinkle with a dusting of ground cinnamon.

Chill for about 1/2 before eating, this is not as solid as a cheesecake but you can still pick all the contents up with the spoon right down to the biscuit base!
Enjoy this dessert chilled, with a cup of fresh mint tea.